GREENVILLE, Ky. (8/21/13) – What was once a landmark pharmacy in Greenville that tragically burned may soon be a beautiful new landmark complete with a fountain surrounded by an English garden. Local citizens have already noticed the new fountain that highlights the corner across from the old historic courthouse square in Greenville.

"The site of the fountain was previously the location of the Williams and Wells Pharmacy, which burned a few years ago,” said Greenville City Administrator Ben Van Hooser. “It is on the corner of South Main and West Main. The owners of the property, Tommy and Carlin Martin, asked if the city would be interested in having them donate the land to the city. The couple realized that the city was in the process of making significant improvements to the downtown area. We graciously accepted the donation. There was a small piece of property adjacent to it."

"That was about 2 or 3 years ago. More recently we were approached by officers with Old National Bank, including Ms. Peggy Williams, and she asked if we would be interested in making some improvements to that property which we felt at this time is a bit of an eyesore. We said we would love to partner with Old National Bank. Subsequently she asked the CEO of Old National Bank to come take a look at the property and see about working out granting us a community improvement grant to make this a reality. We did get approval. All of that has transpired in the past 6 to 10 months."

Van Hooser explained that "Most recently we had a fountain specialist who as actually built a fountain on site. As of now, we have a mason back on the site, who will be constructing a large patio. We'll follow that up with some landscaping with the help of our street department and some inmates. And then we'll landscape the surrounding area, and turn that into an English garden around the perimeter. So there's been a partnership, not only with the principal donor, but also with some other donors who have pitched in and helped out on the project." Van Hooser said, adding that there have been a number of other projects where citizens who stepped up to the plate. “We have experienced that on a number projects, as we move forward in revitalizing the downtown Greenville area."

One other example of upgrading the city of Greenville as a whole is the "Ephraim Brank Monument", which will stand at the Southwest corner of the Courthouse Square at the entrance to the Veterans Plaza Mall.

Van Hooser noted that the committee has already approved many of the revisions on the project after visiting Louisville sculptor Raymond Graf.

"We hope the statue will be finished in January or February, but we plan to wait for better weather, around May, before the official unveiling of the finished bronze statue, and make a huge gala event out of it." Van Hooser noted.